Monday the 8th of August was a very special day for me – it was my Birthday :) No, I’m not going to tell you how old (or young) I am because that’s rude. But what I will tell you is all the enjoyable eating I did to celebrate my big day!

The awesome Bf-B spoilt me with a trip to Cutler and Co. the night before as it’s sadly not open Mondays. But I’m not going to blog about it as it was far too special. Rest assured though, I thoroughly enjoyed it, and plan on returning and blogging my next visit! The very generous Bf-B also surprised me with a new lens for my camera! So I’m now wielding a Nikon D40X with an AF-S DX NIKKOR 50mm f/1.8g lens attached. Now I just have to learn to use it..

It was a good start to the actual day: 30 minutes late to work after stopping at Collective Espresso in Camberwell for breakfast. Strong latte for Bf-B, skinny for me. To eat, Bf-B opted for his usual smashed avocado and feta on toast with poached eggs, while I lashed out and got poached eggs on potato rosti served with beetroot-cured salmon, spinach, roast tomatoes (a strange addition I thought) and aioli. Yum!

Collective Espresso3 Cookson StreetCamberwell, 3124(03) 9882 8995

After a few hours at work, Boss T suggested we all go out for lunch. As it was a Monday, it was quite difficult to find somewhere special that was open, until I suggested De Clieu on Gertrude St. Perfect. I’d been wanting to try for ages.

De Clieu (named after the French Lieutenant who first introduced coffee to the French colonies in South America) is run by Mark Dundon and Bridget Amor of Seven Seeds and Brother Baba Budan fame. It’s clean and modern inside, and smaller than I thought. We take a seat and read the menu: like the surroundings, it’s kept simple with only a couple of options for breakfast, a few pide and baguette options, and the odd salad.

Boss T opts for a vegetarian baguette with roasted capsicum, goats cheese, quince paste and rocket. Miss A decides to have a second breakfast, which on arrival appears to be European influenced: a selection of sliced ham, cheese, and baguette, with a hard boiled egg. The waitress also brings out two pots of jam along side, which Miss A spreads eagerly on a piece of baguette and tops with a piece of cheese. Interesting. I again decide to again lash out (it is my birthday after all) and choose the toasted beef brisket sandwich with cheese and relish. Yum! While the food is simple it has obviously been well thought out.

De Clieu187 Gertrude StFitzroy, 3065(03) 9416 4661

Being my birthday, Boss T insists we order cake and leaves the choosing to me. I can’t resist the yummy looking cupcakes and choose one each of the vanilla and chocolate to share between us.

After a few more hours at work, I finally finish up and return home. I actually hadn’t planned on doing anything that night, but Bf-B suggests we go out for dinner and I can’t help and go for the trifecta. I suggest a casual dinner at Curry Curry nearby – it’s my favourite for Indian and so I can forgive it for the paper table cloths and neon sign.

Bf-B is starving and orders the onion bhaji to start – deep fried balls of grated onion packed with cumin. I tell Bf-B there will be no kissing after these! I finish 1 while he inhales 3.

For mains Bf-B chooses the chicken do mircha, a spicy tomato based curry that is similar to butter chicken but with a more complex flavour. A must try! Feeling overwhelmed by the vast menu, I ask the waitress which of the lamb dishes is the best: she suggests the lamb saagwala, tender lamb pieces in a rich spinach gravy. Another good choice, but I prefer the chicken. Bf-B orders a side of cheese kulcha (cheese stuffed nan bread) while I opt for the laccha paratha (a very flaky roti lathered in butter that is my favourite) and a side of rice. While I’m not feeling all that hungry after a massive day of eating, I still manage to polish off a decent serve. While the place isn’t flash, the food is undeniably good.

Curry Curry931 Burke RdCamberwell, 3124(03) 9813 2753

I go to bed that night feeling tired and full. I’ve been spoilt rotten by everyone around me, especially Bf-B, and swear to eat healthily for the rest of the week. I give it a day.